Great Officers of the Crown of France

The Great Officers of the Crown were the most important officer of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the King of France, and the appointments were for life (except for Chancellor), and were not transmissible or hereditary. A similar list, called the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire at the Imperial court of France was made by Napoleon I with these positions being, usually, an honorific.

In 1224, Louis VIII legislated that the Great Officers participate – alongside the peers of France – in trials of members of the peers.

The military titles – such as the Marshals of France, the Grand Master of Artillery, or the Colonel Generals – were offices granted to individuals and not military ranks.

In the hierarchical order established by Henry III in 1582, the Great Officers of the Crown of France were:

1. Grand Constable (connétable), the First Officer of the Crown and commander of the French army. The position was suppressed in 1626.
2. Lord Chancellor (Chancelier), ran the judicial system. The chancellor was assisted in his tasks by the Keeper of the Seals.
3. High Steward (Grand maître), head of the King's Household (or "Maison du Roi").
4. Grand Chamberlain (Grand chambellan), in charge of the king's chamber, with additional duties.
5. Grand Admiral (Amiral de France), head of the French Navy.
6. Marshal-General (Maréchal général des camps et armées du roi) was a......
...

Read More